Delta Cargo is moving to an ‘all-in’ rate structure for US domestic and export shipments as it looks to simplify its pricing setup.
The Atlanta-headquartered airline made the switch to all-in pricing for the US domestic and export shipments on 1 October, with all cargo surcharges built into the quoted price.
However, screening fees, taxes, and ancillary charges will continue to be listed separately.
The airline said that the ”simplified” all-in pricing will make quotes for shipments “clearer and more transparent to better serve our customers” and added that it would provide a ”clear upfront view of the total cost”.
The cargo business assured customers that the change of pricing structure was “not a price increase”, emphasising that the change was designed to make ”quoting clearer and more transparent”.
“This new simplified pricing enhancement reflects feedback from our customers and our commitment to making it easier to do business with Delta Cargo,” Delta Cargo said in a note to customers.
Airlines have in the past attempted to remove the fuel surcharge from their pricing as part of efforts to simplify pricing, although the measure has met with mixed response.
In 2017, Emirates SkyCargo switched back to a separate fuel surcharge after two years of all-in pricing on the back of customer demand.
When the airline announced the change back to fuel surcharges, it said the all-in pricing hadn’t “worked as it was intended” and that the mechanism “has not been dynamic or flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions in a volatile market”.
When Emirates initially made the switch to all-in pricing, the move was welcomed by shipper and forwarder groups because of the simplicity it brought.
It was also felt that ending surcharges would make the market more stable with fewer fluctuations.